“There are lots of professional athletes who have played at a high level with Type 1 and Type 2,” Kopelman said.

Type 2 is manageable, with the requisite blood-sugar monitoring, a healthy diet, and a good amount of physical activity.

Although the Patriots were clearly concerned by Love’s health, they did not take a defensive tackle in last month’s draft. Their top names remaining at the position are Vince Wilfork, free agent signee Tommy Kelly, and Armond Armstead, who spent last year in the Canadian Football League because NFL teams were wary about a heart attack he’d suffered in 2011.

Love went undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2010 but quickly earned a spot in the defensive line rotation, playing in nine games as a rookie. He played in all 16 games in each of the past two seasons, with 24 starts.

He was slowed by a knee injury in the latter weeks of last season but did not miss a game. Love was credited with 40 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one quarterback hit during the season.

Love’s play in 2012 was not up to the level it was in 2011, and he may have been released during training camp had he not shown improvement.

Love, who became a father in December, signed a two-year deal with a maximum value of $3.09 million during the preseason last year. He received a $500,000 signing bonus, had the $100,000 workout bonus, and his base salary was to be $750,000. New England will save $850,000 against the salary cap with the release.

Any team that claims him on waivers will take on the remainder of his contract.

This is the second time this week the Patriots cut a defensive tackle who started multiple games for them in 2012; on Monday, it was Brandon Deaderick. A league source said Deaderick had gotten lazy and wasn’t willing to work. He was claimed by Jacksonville.

Jets lose Garrard

The Jets have one less quarterback in their open competition. A person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press Wednesday that David Garrard plans to retire because of lingering knee issues. Garrard, 35, was signed in March to provide veteran competition for Mark Sanchez. But Garrard, who hadn’t played in a regular-season game in the NFL since 2010 because of injuries, is planning to step away because of knee troubles. The former Jaguars star was cut by the Dolphins last summer after he needed arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Garrard was expected to compete for the Jets’ starting job along with Sanchez and second-round pick Geno Smith. New York also has Greg McElroy and Matt Simms on the roster . . . A person familiar with the situation said two members of the Jets’ front office, assistant general manager Scott Cohen and director of football admistration Ari Nissim, will not have their contracts renewed as new GM John Idzik continues to make personnel changes.

Ravens’ McClain retires

Linebacker Rolando McClain told the Ravens he’s retiring. McClain, 23, played three seasons with the Raiders before signing a one-year contract with Baltimore April 12. ‘‘Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL,’’ Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said Wednesday. Ten days after signing with the Ravens, McClain was arrested in Decatur, Ala., and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. It was the third time McClain was arrested in Decatur since 2011 . . . The Raiders signed returner Josh Cribbs to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Cribbs’s eight kickoff returns for touchdowns are tied with Leon Washington for the most in history . . . Veteran safety Charles Woodson visited with the Broncos but left Denver without a contract, according to NFL.com . . . Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson pleaded guilty in Missoula, Mont., to reduced charges of reckless driving and refusing a breath test and received a 90-day suspended jail sentence . . . Former FBI Director Louis Freeh’s firm has been hired by trucking companies suing Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s company, Pilot Flying J. The FBI alleges members of Pilot’s sales team deliberately withheld rebates to boost Pilot profits and pad sales commissions. No criminal charges have yet been filed.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Shalise Manza Young can be reached at syoung@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @shalisemyoung.